06.04.2026 12:12
The 600-year-old rock inscription, which had been polluted with spray paints for years in Amasya and left to its fate, has been brought back to light through restoration efforts. At first glance, the work appears to be an ordinary stone surface, but it turned out to be one of the rarest examples of Ottoman foundation culture. Moreover, according to experts, this inscription is unique in the world as it is the only foundation deed directly carved into the main rock.
It has been revealed that the 600-year-old rock inscription, one of the rare examples of Ottoman foundation culture in Amasya, is the only foundation deed in the world directly carved into the main rock. Until recently, the 1418 dated work, which resembled a slate board, was restored by the General Directorate of Foundations of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
CONTAINS 8 LINES AND 125 WORDS The Arabic-lettered foundation deed of the Bayezid Pasha Mosque, dated 1418 and located next to the Leğenkaya Waterfall on the banks of the Yeşilırmak River, is considered one of the rare examples of early Ottoman foundation culture. The work, commissioned by Grand Vizier Bayezid Pasha, one of the prominent statesmen of the era of Ottoman Sultan Çelebi Mehmed in the early 15th century, was created using a relief technique on a surface leveled to a marble smoothness up to 2 meters high from the ground. The Arabic inscription, measuring 3 meters in width and 110 centimeters in height, consists of 8 lines and contains 125 words excluding prepositions.
CLEANED WITH SENSITIVE SAND BLASTING METHOD In the examinations conducted by the Samsun Regional Board for the Protection of Cultural Assets in 2024, it was determined that the surface and surroundings of the rock inscription had been damaged by spray paints. In this regard, the restoration works carried out by the General Directorate of Foundations of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism involved cleaning the paint residues on the surface using a micro-sensitive sandblasting method with travertine stone powder by expert teams. The weakened surface due to external factors was reinforced with suitable chemical materials, and the readability of the inscriptions was increased through light shading made with earth paint. To protect the work from environmental and human-induced negative effects, the protection platform was expanded, and a steel supporting system and frame profiles were applied to the wall surface. A transparent protective system was preferred in the inscription section. Additionally, a lighting system was placed within the frame to enhance the visibility of the work at night.
CARRIES THE FEATURE OF BEING UNIQUE IN THE WORLD Tokat Regional Director of Foundations Sebahattin Erdoğan stated, "The rock inscription is unique in the world as it is the only example of a foundation deed directly carved into the main rock. It is only found in our Amasya. This work is a legacy from Grand Vizier Bayezid Pasha to us."
"A GREAT HISTORY IS WRITTEN HERE" Nuran Muslu, the headman of Nergiz Neighborhood, expressed that the days when the work turned into a slate board where love declarations were made unconsciously are now behind us, saying, "The work turned out very beautiful. It added a different color to our Amasya. A great history is being written here. They revived and brought it to light. May God bless those who contributed."